| Is Your Mind Out Of Control |
| Written by Yamaya Cruz | |
| Thursday, 11 November 2010 | |
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Everyone wants everything to be perfect. But once in a while we all have those days. When nothing goes right. When you wake up just a few minutes late and find yourself rushing to get the kids off to school. You skip breakfast and you just don't have enough time to get in a morning workout. Instead, you stop and get a bagel or doughnut on the way. You honk your horn and bang at your steering wheel, annoyed that there's so much traffic and that it's keeping you from getting to your destination. Then the thoughts began. The inner dialogue that gets you more roused up than a Republican at the Democratic Convention. Your mind has hit the play button and you watch in horror as all of your predictions unfold. You're going to be late, again. You're boss is going to kill you. You'll never get that promotion now. You drive to work, speeding, jaywalking through traffic, and risking your life to save just a few minutes of time.
Everyone wants everything to be perfect. But once in a while we all have those days. When nothing goes right. When you wake up just a few minutes late and find yourself rushing to get the kids off to school. You skip breakfast and you just don't have enough time to get in a morning workout. Instead, you stop and get a bagel or doughnut on the way. You honk your horn and bang at your steering wheel, annoyed that there's so much traffic and that it's keeping you from getting to your destination. Then the thoughts began. The inner dialogue that gets you more roused up than a Republican at the Democratic Convention. Your mind has hit the play button and you watch in horror as all of your predictions unfold. You're going to be late, again. You're boss is going to kill you. You'll never get that promotion now. You drive to work, speeding, jaywalking through traffic, and risking your life to save just a few minutes of time. This happens to millions of people everyday and they don't realize that their minds are out of control. This results in people being really stressed out. Now, there are some who may think that stress in small dosages is a good thing. It creates healthy competition; it motivates people to be the best they can be. But stress in large dosages is toxic, not only to a person's health, but to their relationships, career and peace of mind. How many of us walk around tense and angry? How many of us lash out at relatives or loved ones? How many of us spend our days always imagining the worse? If you are one of these people, you are really stressed out. There are people who say that stress in small amounts is a good thing. It gives people a competitive spirit, pushing them to excel and be their best. That may very well be true. But what happens when stress gets out of control? When your blood pressure is through the roof? When you're angry and tense all the time? When you lash out at your love ones and children? Stress can be a killer when it causes you to make bad choices. The best way to handle stress is to monitor your thoughts by learning about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Many doctors and therapist use these techniques with their patients, and if you are seriously ill, you may want to ask them about it. Also, an article or a blog written by me is no substitution for professional care. It also includes, our dreams, memories, and images. Stress for example, is the fear of the unknown. Instead of just living in the moment, our minds wonder off and we imagine the worse possible situations. If we are late we are going to feel embarrassed, rejected, or feel like we let both our boss and team down. This kind of thinking is toxic. It makes us uptight and in many situations, sick. Our behavior on the other hand, refers to everything that we do. This includes being active. And being inactive, which is otherwise known as procrastination and just plain laziness. CBT works for a lot of people because it allows them to take control of their lives. In fact, it is used to help people suffering from Depression, Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Addiction, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. CBT works because it addresses the causes of the problem and not the result. It teaches people to focus on their thought process while bringing them to a heightened level of awareness. So if you are having one of those days. Just slow down and remember Ren Descartes' quote. "I think, therefore I am. |
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